Oscar Piastri’s performance marked his third consecutive victory and fourth overall this season, underscoring McLaren’s resurgence as the team to beat in the current championship fight.

Starting from fourth on the grid, Piastri faced stiff competition in the opening laps. Pole-sitter Max Verstappen initially held off both McLarens, with Lando Norris being forced wide in a dramatic wheel-to-wheel fight and dropping down the order.

However, Piastri methodically worked his way forward, first passing Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli and then setting his sights on Verstappen. The defining moment came on lap 14, when Piastri pressured Verstappen into a mistake at Turn 1. Verstappen locked up and ran wide, allowing Piastri to sweep into the lead and take control of the race. 

 “The car was incredible today. I struggled a bit during the hard stint, so there are aspects to improve on. I need to keep learning, but I’m really pleased to leave Miami at the top,” Piastri said after the race. “Two years ago, we were the slowest team, and I think we got lapped twice. Now, we’ve won the race by 35 seconds.” 

McLaren Dominates as Rivals Falter

As Piastri built a comfortable lead at the front, Lando Norris mounted a recovery drive after his first-lap setback. Norris fought his way back, eventually overtaking Verstappen for second place during a tense exchange on lap 17.

Despite closing the gap to Piastri in the closing laps, Norris ultimately finished 4.6 seconds behind his teammate, securing a dominant one-two finish for McLaren.

Behind the McLarens, George Russell capitalized on a well-timed Virtual Safety Car to claim the final podium spot for Mercedes. Verstappen, who had started from pole, was forced to settle for fourth after struggling with brake issues and fading pace.

Championship Implications

Piastri’s Miami triumph extends his championship lead to 16 points over Norris, cementing his status as the season’s pacesetter. The result also highlights McLaren’s transformation from backmarkers just two seasons ago to dominant front-runners in 2025.

With the English team now enjoying a sizeable gap to their rivals, the intra-team battle between Piastri and Norris looks set to define the championship narrative in the races to come.

As Formula 1 heads to Europe for the next round, all eyes will be on whether Piastri can maintain his winning streak, and if the rest of the grid can mount a response to McLaren’s new standard.